Ronald Reagan National Airport will suspend airline operations on June 14 to accommodate flyovers and fireworks displays for a military parade held in honor of the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary, a date that coincides with President Trump’s 79th birthday.
The airport, also known as DCA and one of three in the Washington area, said in a statement that the parade, which the Army estimated to cost between $25 million and $45 million, may impact scheduled flights and that travelers should “check the status of their flights directly with their airline.”
Here’s what you need to know.
Will the airport be closed?
A spokesperson for DCA said in an email that the airport would “remain open” but that flights were expected to be halted during the fireworks and parade flyover. The parade is scheduled between 6:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. and will be followed by a fireworks display at 9:45 p.m.
The F.A.A. said it intends to stop all arrivals and departures during the “peak of the celebration.” An agency spokesman did not provide further detail about how long air traffic operations would be paused.
How often is DCA closed for big events?
Michael McCormick, a professor of air traffic management at Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University, said it wasn’t unusual for the F.A.A. to pause traffic for a major air event close to an airport.
“Usually, they keep departures on the ground and go into holding for a short period,” he added.
During major events like presidential inaugurations, the F.A.A. routinely institutes flight restrictions, limiting normal operations at DCA but not significantly affecting commercial service.
How many flights will be affected?
There are more than 600 scheduled flights to and from Reagan National Airport on June 14: 322 arrivals and 324 departures, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium. The majority of those flights are scheduled to be operated by American Airlines, which has a hub at Reagan National Airport.
It is not yet clear how many flights will be affected by the closure, though 100 flights — 65 arrivals and 35 departures — are currently scheduled between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m., according to Cirium data.
What have major carriers like American, Southwest and Delta said in response to the closure?
Major airlines such as JetBlue, Southwest and Delta have not yet issued a waiver or travel advisory on their websites. In statements to The Times, carriers have said they’re making adjustments to their schedules and notifying affected passengers.
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Ethan Klapper, a spokesman for American Airlines, said that the carrier is adjusting its schedule, adding larger aircraft to accommodate more customers at alternative times, and offering flexibility for passengers to travel through Washington Dulles and Baltimore Washington at no additional cost. The airline has also issued a travel waiver allowing affected passengers to rebook travel through June 14 without incurring any extra fees.
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A spokesperson for Alaska Airlines said the company has limited exposure at DCA during the parade and had canceled a flight to San Francisco, rebooking those passengers out of Dulles. The airline is also expecting to delay three flights for about an hour.
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Ashley Bain, a spokeswoman for Southwest Airlines, said the carrier has about 20 flights in and out of DCA during the anticipated airspace closure but does not expect any cancellations, adding that the airline will make sure customers are aware of the disruptions.
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A spokesperson for Delta Air Lines said the carrier expects only a small number of operational adjustments.
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Christine Chung is a Times reporter covering airlines and consumer travel.
Nia Decaille is an editor on The Times’s Audience team, who also writes about culture and lifestyle.
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